The Backyard Seed Project

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For the past 3 years, the Network Charter School has been working closely with Walama Restoration Project to create and establish a native prairie in Whilamut Natural Area. The prairie, which is located across from the Nearby Nature Park Host, currently has more than 50 species of plants that attract native insect pollinators. Students propagated plants from seeds, helped build raised beds to grow native plants, weeded out invasive weeds for endless hours at the prairie, and planted more than 10,000 grasses and wildflowers.

The prairie is expanding every year, which has prompted WRP to recruit volunteers to grow out pollinator-friendly native wildflowers in their own yards. Beginning in January 2009, the seeds will be sown, and grown to full maturity, meaning, until they produce seeds. The seeds will then be collected by volunteers, with the help of WRP staff. In the following fall, Network Charter School students and WRP will clean the seeds and sow them into flats at the WRP native plant nursery or directly sow them into the ground at the Whilamut Natural Area Butterfly Meadow.

WRP has now recruited at least 25 households to grow out more than 15 species of herbaceous plants. Participants receive information and guidance, with year-round support and postcard updates from WRP staff.

Participating in the Backyard Seed Program provides a unique and exciting opportunity to witness and experience the full growth cycle of pollinator-friendly native wildflowers. Together, we can all bring back native plant and pollinator diversity by growing out native seeds. WRP is looking forward to our first backyard seed harvests in 2009!

*Please download our Backyard Seed Project Recruitment Brochure, compiled by the Network Charter Permaculture Class in spring 2008.

*To find out more about the Whilamut Natural Area Butterfly Meadow, please click here.